Kapil resigns from ICL, returns to BCCI

The long-standing cold war between Kapil Dev and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), that began with Kapil’s association with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), appears to have ended.

A release from the BCCI stated that Kapil, India’s finest allrounder and first World Cup-winning captain, had sent the board a letter informing them of his resignation from Essel Sports Private Limited/ICL.

“Whatever people might think, personally I have learnt a lot. Now I feel more experienced and confident about taking up any responsibility that I am entrusted with,” Kapil was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

In the letter, Kapil also stated that he had always supported the BCCI and would continue to do so.

N Srinivasan, the president of the BCCI, welcomed the development, saying: “The BCCI acknowledges Mr. Kapil Dev’s immense contribution to Indian cricket, and looks forward to a fruitful association with him in the years to come.”

Kapil’s formally cutting off all ties with the now-defunct ICL also means that he is now eligible for the one-time benefit that the BCCI had announced for former cricketers during the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League. With 131 Test caps, he comes in the highest bracket and will be paid Rs.1.5 crore.

“I have always believed that there isn’t a single thing that can’t be sorted out if two people sit across the table and talk it out. Even Indo-Pak issue could be sorted out if there is proper dialogue,” said Kapil. “I have never disregarded BCCI as it was, and will remain, my parent body. As a sportsman, my aim was to help sportspersons grow. The idea is to see what is good for sport rather than what’s good for individuals.”

Explaining the reasons why Kapil wasn’t eligible for the benefit payment, Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, had stated a few weeks ago that “As far as Kapil is concerned, BCCI is not against him”. At the board’s Working Committee meeting in mid-July, Kiran More had also been granted amnesty. More, who joined ICL in 2007 and had been banned since then, had written to the BCCI before IPL 2012 seeking amnesty.

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